Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath announced Thursday that the official autopsy results for Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old who died following a July 4 trip to Horn Island, will remain sealed until a grand jury reviews the evidence. The announcement came a day after Wells' family released the findings of an independent autopsy that raised further questions about the circumstances of his death.
McIlrath stated in a video release that all deaths not caused by natural causes or non-criminal car accidents are presented to the county's grand jury. "Nolan's case is being handled the same way, with the same care, and the same commitment to the truth that we handle all death investigations," she said. "We are not taking time for time's sake. We are taking the time required to complete the work this investigation demands."
The district attorney addressed criticisms regarding the handling of the case, including accusations from NAACP President Derrick Johnson that state and local Mississippi officials have been "derelict in their duties." McIlrath emphasized that "every piece of evidence must be examined. Every credible lead must be followed to its conclusion. Every witness interview must be analyzed in context of all other evidence." She added that pressure for answers does not alter the requirements of the investigation.
McIlrath explained that rules of professional conduct limit the information a prosecutor can disclose during an investigation. However, she stressed that the responsibility to the community is to conduct a thorough, careful, and evidence-supported investigation without compromise. "Our restraint in communicating facts and evidence is not an effort to keep the truth from the public. It is an effort to protect the integrity of this investigation and the grand jury proceeding," she stated.
The independent autopsy, conducted in Washington, D.C., after Wells' body was transported from Mississippi, found that the teen's throat was missing. Dr. Roger Mitchell, who performed the second autopsy, ruled the cause and manner of Wells' death as "undetermined pending investigation," citing decomposition and an unexplained 12-inch discoloration on the teenager's head as factors. He noted that the removal of anatomical structures for further evaluation by the initial pathologist is not uncommon.
Dr. Michael Baden, a former chief medical examiner who reviewed the preliminary independent autopsy results, told The Post that the report so far does not indicate foul play, but stated, "Right now, the situation is you can’t tell the cause of death."
Nolan Wells vanished during a boat trip with friends on July 4 and his body was discovered on July 6. The district attorney acknowledged the public's desire for answers, stating, "If we sacrifice the integrity of the process in effort to satisfy today’s questions, we risk undermining the confidence in tomorrow’s answers."